Quick Update!

We're in Paris. The flight last night was easy. We caught the train into town and arrived at St Michel and on to our flat it was! After getting situated, we headed out for crepes!

More later!

"... an incapacity for asking the right question has grown, in our time and country, to the proportions of an endemic disease." --- Dorothy L. Sayers

Laissez-Faire

Do you remember the first time you heard the term laissez-faire? Maybe you were in a high school economics class or a European history course. That super-fun-to-say term is a significant player in capitalism (and the history of capitalism) and it also has a little something to do with MBA's research project. For a quick tutorial and an explanation as to the importance of economic exchange research, listen to this segment on NPR: Economic Crisis Stirs Free-Market Debate.

Happy Father's Day!

My dad has more character, kindness, and humility than any other human I know. I wish I could be with him today but we've already planned a fun celebration when they come visit this summer.

I can't wait to see you Dad! I love you!

Film Fest '09 + Comment

Just a quick update on the Edinburgh Film Festival. I saw Los Ultimos Heroes de la Peninsula last night and am seeing The Hurt Locker tonight (super excited about this film!).

I also had a really interesting conversation with an Iranian friend last night about the current upheaval in his home country. He commented that things that waste our time in the west (i.e. blogging, facebook, twitter) are means of protest and freedom in the east. These forms of media are tools that fight oppression. What an interesting insight.

"The Iliad is only great because all life is a battle, the Odyssey because all life is a journey, the Book of Job because all life is a riddle." - G. K. Chesterton, The Defendant, 1907

The Ultimate Parade of Homes: Castle Howard

Castle Howard is the personal residence of the Howard family, and the estate has been in their family since the 1700's. Mr. Howard, his wife, and two kids still live at this palatial abode. A few of their current family pictures are sprinkled about this stately home.

The first view as we drove onto the Howard estate

I was getting excited about going in!

You might recognize Castle Howard as the location where Brideshead Revisited was filmed.

These aren't just any statues -- most are from Roman times. Can you imagine having Roman artifacts place about your home?

Yes- those pictures in the above photo are their personal family photographs, amongst their personal family Roman statues.

A random black & white photo thrown in for good measure.

The estate is so opulent, it has peacocks roaming about. I had to throw my foot in this picture so you could see how close these peacocks get to people.

It was so lovely and warm, MBA decided no shoes and socks were required for this leisurely afternoon constitution.

We even walked through a few acres of forest on the Howard footpaths. MBA loved this. I didn't like getting rocks and such in my sandals. Shocked?

We stopped for an afternoon tea break, but I decided the warm summer afternoon called for Elderflower juice -- one of my favorite drinks in Britain. You must try some!

The Rose Garden

This statute was first in the possession of the Medici's in Florence. Un.Be.Liev.Able. I couldn't get over this statute -- once in the hands of the Medici's -- now out in the elements in the Rose Garden.

This residence is one of the 1001 places in 1001 Places To See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List - a book I purchased for MBA when we first started dating in 2004. At that time, I had no idea we'd be using the book while living abroad in Europe!